Lesson 700: Contact with The Island

 Hello, Readers.  

I was hoping for something good to write about

for my 700th blog post.  

How nice it fell on Memorial Day weekend.

Pennsylvania is moving back into normal routines

and boasts 70% of the population has received at least one dose

of the COVID 19 vaccine.

Mask restrictions have eased and folks are gathering

to remember those who have given their lives for our country.

Picnics and outdoor gatherings--

I remember those!

They will feel good again!

How I wanted to paint these on my hill this weekend.

WRONG!

It's raining here.

43 degrees,

windy,

and raining,

that is.

It will green up the grass nicely.

I haven't done much this week besides 

watch Sam chit chatting with kids on first base.

All I really want to do is read my next book,

and all I can do is study the cover and sniff the pages.

Smells like a good one.

Instead, 

this is all I've been staring at--

the blue one with the radio tower.

Yes, I'm studying for my HAM Radio Technician license through the FCC.

Whaaaat?!?!?!

Yes,

I'll be adding that to my list of helpful qualifications come Sunday

if I pass the exam.

The main motivation for this adventure,

is it will benefit my students if I have this knowledge.

Questies,

I'm doing this for you.

There is a project starting next school year

I would like to be involved in,

but I have no knowledge of the content.

I am so psyched to watch LOST again this summer.

All the radios,

the comms,

Penny's Boat,

the Lamp Post,

the Hatch,

the transceivers,

the electromagnetism---

it all makes sense now!

I really know how to contact the Island!

So,

what does any good teacher do?
Decide two weeks ago that I can learn this stuff,

sign up for a test date,

and make a plan of study.

Practice what you preach!

There are 10 elements 

broken into 34 sub elements.

I quiz myself after each section.

Here is a sample question.

They are all like this,

and most are worse.

I write down my mistakes with the correct answers.

Who says you can't mix in a little humor

when you are continually humbled.

It's difficult!

I've been starting to take pre-tests and passing them.

There is a database of 400 possible questions

and I will get a randomly selected 35.

I need to answer 26 correctly to pass.

The Gifted Teacher shooting for the minimum competency.....

Send your good vibes through the single side band (SSB).

I'll hook up the transceiver

and I'll read you loud and clear.

Soon, it will be summer

and I haven't decided if I'm going to lie in a vegetative state

or go on a bit of a bender.

In either case, 

I will not be wearing shoes.

Eloise

Lesson 699: Can't Keep From Singing

 Hello there, Readers.

We are headed into a beauty of a weekend 

here in northwestern PA.

My heart is happy!

Trust me.

You really don't want me singing,

but it's never stopped me.

But you would want to listen to them!

                                                                            And him.

Can you spot Sam?

Harbor Creek High School's spring concert

was the first live performance I've seen in 14 months!

There's been so many happenings this week 

that have put a song in my soul.

Natalie celebrated a birthday.

She's fun and easy to shop for.

Her favorite gift was her new gear for 

the summer baseball and fishing season.

I think you'll be able to spot her

at the North East Marina.

We are happy the birds came back to nest!

Three beautiful eggs.

The first to hatch was on May 19th

so I named her Natalie.

Check out the wing....

The pooches are happy because Penny is heading into her first summer.

She thinks summertime is going to be fun.

Hazel didn't get in trouble once this week.

Penny ate a hanger,

and not just one

but TWO hairbrushes.

You can see why Ryan hangs his shoes on the coat hooks

when he comes to visit.

                                I'm starting a photo folder for weird things found while hiking.

Here's my first entry.

He was hanging in a tree 

in the Community Park's east trail.

                                                                    Nature always sings a beautiful song.

The vineyards.

The tree at the foot of the 
Clark School hill.

It has an interesting growth coming out of the top.

A dead branch that adds to its character.

I zoom it from the parking lot every day,

hoping to catch a bird on a lookout.

Today I caught him in the act!

We're heading out to catch something the weekend of June 5th.

I caught a lovely evening with my son 

at this nearby park,

totally devoted to nature's song.

The moon had an interesting glow about it tonight,

as it if was radiating its own song to the universe.

I guess you can't keep the moon from singing either.

Eloise